Sufuyan Ojeifo and Toba Suleiman
3 July 2009
Abuja / Ado Ekiti — Nigeria was yesterday thrown into grief as two of her illustrious sons who in their various callings had contributed in no small measure towards the development of the nation died of old age and cadiac arrest.
The duo of former Senator Martins Yellowe and Major-General James Oluleye (rtd) - died in the early hours of yesterday. Yellowe, who represented Rivers West Senatorial District from 1999 to 2007, died in Abuja at the age of 63.
The two-time Senator died at the National Hospital, Abuja, where he was rushed to when he suddenly took ill on Wednesday evening. He was said to have lost the battle for life yesterday morning.
The cause of his death was not immediately known, but the National Assembly sources said he died of cardiac arrest. Senate President David Mark in a statement, described the death of Yellowe as a great loss to the polity and the medical profession.
Mark, in a condolence message to the government and people of Rivers State, urged the family to take solace in the fact that Yellowe lived an eventful and accomplished life.
Oluleye, a former military governor and member of the defunct Supreme Military Council (SMC), the highest decision making body in the then administration of the late General Murtala Mohammed, also died in the early hours of yesterday
The late former military brass died at about 3.00 am at his country home in Efon-Alaaye, Ekiti State, due to what a family source attributed to old age.
Oluleye, who died at the age of 80, was the military governor of the old Kwara State, Western and Mid-Western States simultaneously during the regime of General Yakubu Gowon.
He was a member of the Supreme Military Council (SMC) between 1975 and 1979 and was also the Federal Commissioner for Finance during the Murtala/Obasanjo regime from 1975 to 1979.
One of his kinsmen and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ado-Ekiti (UNAD), Prof Dipo Kolawole, who described him as an asset to Ekiti State and the nation at large, said the late Oluleye was a very honest man who left a shinning legacy for the present and coming generation.
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